THE horse's rescue. 209 



foot hook, and clean out all dirt and gravel under the 

 shoes, if there is any. I look to see, then I will know; 

 pack all feet with cow manure; this takes out the un- 

 natural heat. If I did not do this when the horses 

 lie down after driving all day, this heat would dry up 

 the foot or cause it to dry up. In this case, the weight 

 being off the center, the sole would rise up. If it is 

 only a little degree, it effects when the horses rise on 

 their feet. The weight will settle the sole again. It 

 causes irritation. If they are packed this will not 

 take place. In wet an^ muddy roads this would not 

 be necessary. There would not be the concussion. 

 The water and mud would take out the heat. This is 

 the way some horses get very badly stiffened right 

 after feeding and watering, by not taking care of their 

 feet after hard drives. And if they did do all this, if 

 they were botched ironing their feet, no packing or 

 soaking would prevent until the cause was removed 

 and kept removed. 



At the end of this journey I find my horses, with 

 t^is care, as limber as they were when I first started. 

 The shoes are about worn off their feet, and all nearly 

 worn in two at the toe ; and some of the hoof at the 

 toe is worn off. This is all right for me and the horses 

 too. I wanted it to wear off ; the lever has been 

 growing all the time, and wearing off has shortened it. 

 This takes th*^ strain off the back tendons, and, with 

 other care I take of them, keeps my horses from get- 

 ting foundered. 



Remember, I told you before I shod these horse 

 they were nearly natural. In this case the frog before 

 shoeing on all of their feet rested on the grcMind I 



